🌸 ShinRan Week 2023 - Day 5 “I wish I could tell you that I love you.” 🌸
Both Shinichi and Ran being cute about debating whether to text and freaking out about it. After their confessions, it’s hard to text “I love you” or even just some sweet nothings. “I miss you” and “I’ll wait for you” are totally “I love you” in this series, but even those aren’t sent without some blushing.
It’s still weird to me that they have been dating for such a long time (chapter-wise), and this fact seems to be barely touched on. There has to be a reason and it’s cause both of them are too shy still to say anything cute about it!
Sonoko is definitely pulling her hair out, though. Sonoko: “Wait Ran, you HAVEN’T Texted him?!?!”
(I know there was one chapter where she was too shy to text him but that was weak! GOSHO GIVE US SOME FLUFF PLEASE) 😂
(Also also - I can’t wait until their relationship gets back from angst land to the point where she can send him memes dunking on him being a detective freak again)
Text for mobile:
Ran: “I want to text you so bad that I miss you... I want talk to you again”
Ran: “ugh I could also tell him I think he’s cute too, but it’s so embarrassing!”
Shinichi Reading Ran Text: “Miss you Babe <3 There’s so much I want to tell you!” (Ran taking two weeks of debating sending this and one final push from Sonoko)
Shinichi: “There’s so much I want to tell you, too!” [ You’re so beautiful. You’re cute and strong. You make me a better me. I want to actually properly kiss you. I want to hold you. I want everyone to know that you’re my girlfriend. I miss you, too]
Thanks so much for suggesting and voting, everyone! After counting the votes, here are the 2023 prompts!
Day 1: School/University || Holidays
Day 2: Intimate Gestures || Nighttime Date
Day 3: Holmes and Watson || Historical AU
Day 4: Black Knight and Princess || Flowers
Day 5: "I wish I could tell you that I love you." || Secret & Trust
Day 6: Proposal || Anniversary
Day 7: Post-canon || Creator's Choice
Prompt descriptions under the cut, for extra inspiration.
Day 1
School/University
High school, university, college… In what school they would be? Would they prepare for some tests together or help each other with homework? Would there be parties, living in dorms… Or something else?
Holidays
It’s time to take it easy and enjoy a holiday! What Shinichi and Ran would do? Would they just stay home and do something together, or would there be some kind of trip somewhere?
Day 2
Intimate gestures
Time to get sweet! Those two and some nice little things, like holding hands, cuddling together, dancing slowly, changing kisses, using the language of love… you name it! Let them have some cute moments together!
Nighttime date
A late date at night. What would be sweeter than adoring the city lights in his arms, taking her out to eat a late dinner in a fine restaurant? Or maybe just simple fast food together after the bar? Perhaps some karaoke with a tone-deaf detective or a stroll in the moonlight with your beautiful karateka…
Day 3
Holmes and Watson
Shinichi and Ran, like Holmes and Watson! Literally or figuratively, in the 19th century or in modern days?
Historical AU
Is there some historical event you would like to recreate with Shinichi and Ran? What if they were some important people from history, living their life? Or maybe there is some other era those two could have lived in? Heian Japan, Prohibition, King Arthur’s time?
Day 4
Black Knight and Princess
That one play at school left a mark on our hearts! There are many versions of it, but certainly not enough! Maybe there is still a version you want to share, maybe there is still something that could have gone differently… Or maybe this is the whole own story to tell, not just a play?
Flowers
There are so many beautiful flowers, different colors, and different shapes. And every one of them has its own meaning. A nice way to remember someone, or maybe to give to someone special.
Day 5
“I wish I could tell you that I love you.”
A simple, cute phrase. Maybe a little bit angsty? I wonder which one would say this and why…
Secret & Trust
She was a big secret, he was someone to trust. He held a secret, she trusted him more than anything… Two the opposite words, but it’s up to you how to use them!
Day 6
Proposal
It’s the time! But which one is proposing and how?! Is it going to go as planned or is there going to be, I don’t know, maybe a case that is disturbing the whole thing? You know, I wouldn’t be surprised about that…
Anniversary
It’s time to celebrate! But what Shinchi and Ran would celebrate? Wedding day? Or maybe some event? Or maybe they are on a quest at some anniversary party?
Day 7
Post-canon
Black Organisation is taken down and Shinichi is back. What would happen after that? How his life would go on, and how about the love of his life, Ran?
Creator’s choice
Was there a prompt that you would have loved to use but wasn’t here? Don’t worry! This is your chance to create whatever you would like to!
A/N: Okay, here is my last entry for ShinRan week! Honestly, this came out to be much longer than I planned, which is the reason why my reread attempts haven't been very good, but I hope this is still enjoyable ^^
This was something I came up with when I told in The Light in My Nightmares chapter 15 how predictable the first Detective Conan live-action movie was. But like said, I also realized that at this point, I have pretty often made Ran to be the damsel in distress, so I decided to fix that! Though because I thought to make one shot, I suffered pretty much with the plot, and now I'm not even sure if I like this, but hey, I did it and this is what it is, so let's go! xD I hope you would still enjoy it!
Also, thanks to everyone for your support during ShinRan week ❤ I'm happy that you have enjoyed my writings (and I have also got to enjoy other's works too! ❤).
Detective in distress
Ran was worried. God, she really was even though she probably shouldn’t be.
“Idiot. Don’t worry about me”, she could hear Shinichi’s voice in her mind. That sentence she had heard too many times before, but it couldn’t be helped. She knew that Shinichi was a known high-school detective who had even taken down that mysterious Black Organisation, which meant that it wasn’t that unprecedented that he could have been asked to help with some case.
But he barely ever left during the school day. Usually, after the lessons were over.
And then there was the fact that Ran got that feeling. She couldn’t tell why she felt so worried, but somehow, she had a feeling that something had happened to Shinichi. She had had that feeling when he had left, but like always, he had just smiled and told her that there was nothing to worry about, it is going to be just a meeting with someone - a client.
But usually, when she has had that feeling, something terrible has happened.
And it didn’t change the fact that Shinichi had been silent the whole morning. Like he had been in his own thoughts. She had thought that there was some case he had been thinking about, but when she had asked about it, he hadn’t given her any answer.
And the fact that he just left the school, like that. And that he hadn’t…
“Your husband probably got some kind of case”, Sonoko said, taking Ran out of her thoughts. Ran took her eyes off her phone that she had looked at - again. God, only now she realized how obsessive she was about her phone. But it couldn’t be helped, she was waiting for an answer from Shinichi. All those messages she had sent after he left three hours ago… “And now he is too busy to check his phone”, Sonoko continued and smiled at her. “So don’t worry because you haven’t had any contact with him for a few hours.”
Ran rolled her eyes but looked again at the phone before she made herself shut it. “But Shinichi has always answered me even if he had a case”, she muttered, feeling like Sonoko didn’t take her seriously. “Besides, he hadn’t answered any of my calls.”
“Ran…”
She sighed again and looked at the sky. “I know, he has a bad habit to get too much into cases that he sometimes forgets everything around him, but really, I have the feeling that something bad is happening to him and I can’t get rid of it until… until…”
Sonoko didn’t say anything, and it was terrible because it made Ran’s thoughts go much further than they should. If something had really happened to him and he couldn’t answer to her? Or what if he has gotten into the hospital and was unconscious? Or what if… Ran felt something turning on her stomach. What if he had gotten into something similar situation as with the Black Organisation?
But… This time, he would tell her, right? He promised.
“Ran.”
Ran lowered her head and turned to look at Sonoko. She smiled at her and put both of her hands on her shoulders, squeezing them gently. “I believe he is just into some case and had lost the reality while working on it. There is no way that he would forget you, and I believe that if something would have happened, someone would have informed you.”
Ran looked away. She wanted to believe in it, but still…
“And that feeling… Maybe you are just too worried about him”, Sonoko continued. “I mean… I wouldn’t be surprised if that Conan thing had just left marks on you, and you are just extra cautious and thinking too much.”
It made Ran sigh. She wanted to argue against it. It had been some time since Shinichi took that organization down and got an antidote that turned him back to Shinichi. And after that, Shinichi had taken care of some cases, and during those times, she hadn’t felt this same feeling. Not even though she hadn’t been with him, not even though she hadn’t got a message or call from him during those cases…
But human psychology was another thing. Maybe there was a chance that Sonoko was right. Maybe this was some kind of trauma that woke up only just now. She had talked about the whole Conan mess with Shinichi and made peace with it, but then again, she was so close to losing him because of that organization and takedown. Maybe the realization of that had just hit her now…
Though she didn’t believe in it. She didn’t remember when that feeling had been wrong, but…
Ran shook her head. “You’re probably right”, she agreed finally and looked at Sonoko, trying to smile. “I just worry too much.”
Sonoko smiled. “That’s the spirit”, she shouted happily. “What if we would go to some café later? I heard that close to the station, there is a new one, and they got so much sweet…”
Ran’s smile widened and this time it was genuine. “Oh, really?! Of course, we really should check it out!”
“Yesh! Let’s meet at six.”
“Fine, see you then!”
They said goodbyes and left in their ways. Going to the cafe made Ran feel better. The idea of getting something sweet with good company sounded like something she just needed. But she should tell Shinichi about it. Just so he would know, just in case…
She took out her phone and opened it. But before she had time to search her conversations with Shinichi, she got a message.
Sadly, it wasn’t from Shinichi. And sadly, it made her stop right there. She stared at the message, feeling how her heart sank. She felt cold and worried. She felt desperate. She wanted to turn on someone, but she couldn’t do it. She was too afraid to do so.
She just looked at that unknown number hoping to get any idea who it would belong to, and then she read again that message, which made her shiver.
Dearest Mouri Ran.
I got something that you consider dearest to you. If you want to see your beloved Kudo Shinichi ever again, meet me at Tokyo’s sports hall as soon as you can. And if you want to see him alive, come alone. We have so much to talk about.
With love, your biggest fan.
She came to the sports hall as soon as possible. She had run the whole trip as fast as she could, so when she got to the parking space, she needed to stop for a moment, lean on her knees, and take some breaths to calm down. Though it felt so worthless because she was so worried about Shinichi that she felt like there was no time to stop. She felt tears burning in her eyes when she straightened up and looked at the big building in front of her. The same building where Shinichi and her biggest fan should be.
But it looked so dark and empty, and that made something twitch in Ran’s stomach. She looked around, hoping to find out any clue that someone was there, but it was hard to believe. There was nothing. But this was Tokyo’s sports hall! So where are they? Had she been led wrong?
But she needed to calm down. With panic, she wouldn’t help anyone. Not herself, not Shinichi.
Her biggest fan wouldn’t gain anything by lying to her. If they would want to get rid of Shinichi, why would they waste their own time contacting Ran? Well, to be honest, if this “Biggest fan” would have wanted to talk to her, why they couldn’t just ask? Why take a hostage?
Ran shook her head. Now wasn’t the time! She should check those doors and get in.
She ran to the front doors and tried it. Both of them were locked. She glanced at the inside from the glass, and it still looked desolated, like there was no one. There was only a big, dark lobby where she had been many times while coming to the tournament. Back then, there had been lights on and so many people, so it was pretty weird to see it this empty.
But it wasn’t the reason why she was there. And if her biggest fan wanted to keep this a secret, then there was even no reason to put every light on.
She let out a sigh. Well, she should try other doors.
She ran to the next one and tried it, but it was locked. And the next one too. Ran started to feel frustrated. What was this? Why any of these doors weren’t open if there should be someone inside? Of course, she knew that whoever would be inside, could always lock the door, but still, if they wanted to talk to her… She ran to the next one, which said, “Staff only” and tugged it.
It opened.
With surprise, she just stood there for a moment, just staring at the door. Well, she had known that some of them must be open if she had been invited, but still…
She felt anxious. It felt a little bit scary to go inside. She didn’t know at all what there was waiting for her, and to be honest, even the thought about Shinichi, being somewhere in there, maybe in bad shape…
But it was the reason why she needed to move on. Because he needed her!
Ran stepped inside and slammed the door shut behind her. She was pretty sure that she would find Shinichi and this biggest fan from the biggest gymnasium that was the center of this building - the place where people gathered in the stands to watch all kinds of sports matches, the place where many people around Japan came to compete who would be the best team or individual every year.
But who was her biggest fan?
Ran had thought about it on her way here, trying to figure out who this could be, but she hadn’t got anyone in her mind. To be honest, she couldn’t figure out anyone who could have gotten better of Shinichi. He seemed always being aware of his surrounding, it was hard to try to surprise him. But this one had gotten him. If this fan was someone close to him or her, it would explain why Shinichi probably hadn’t waited for anything to happen but Ran still couldn’t figure out who it could be. And if someone would have just wanted to get rid of him, she didn’t believe that this fan would have bothered to include her in it.
Part of her kind of wished that it would be Shinichi, but part of her knew that Shinichi wouldn’t call himself her biggest fan, and to be honest, even this would go too far from him. He would never make jokes about something like this and made her worried without reason. Right? Though she could also imagine how she would enter the gymnasium and he would be there waiting for her like nothing had happened and probably would laugh at her worry…
If he was behind this, she really hoped for his sake that he has a good reason for this.
Ran came to the big doorway and slowed her steps. In front of her were doors that lead her to the short aisle that those grandstands made. She felt nervous, yet she slowly grabbed the handle and after bracing herself to encounter whatever behind those doors waited, she pressed it down and carefully opened the door.
There was light, but she didn’t see anyone. But she couldn’t even see the whole hall from the doorway, so she stepped inside and closed the door. Slowly she walked that short aisle, seeing more of the hall…
And then she saw it. Someone lying on the floor on their side, but Ran didn’t need much to recognize them. Him.
“Shinichi…”
She let her school bag drop on the floor, making a loud noise. It felt hard to make her feet move, but when she did, she ran toward him. She dropped to her knees beside him, bending over him to see his face. His expression looked painful, but she couldn’t find any visible harm in him. His school uniform looked a little bit messy, like…
Had he been in a fight? But if so, then with whom?
“Shinichi?” she called him, bending a little bit closer. Carefully she touched his face, and almost at the same time, he grimaced. Ran touched his hair, moving them from his forehead when he turned his head a little bit, opening his other eye to look at her…
And something twisted on Ran’s stomach. He was hurt.
“Ra... Ran?” He let out with a hoarse voice. Then he let out a cough that looked so painful. “What… what are you doing here?”
“I could ask the same from you”, Ran answered gently, checking him again, trying to understand what had happened to him, but… “What happened to you? What’s wrong?”
“I…”
“Finally, I got your attention, Ran-chan.”
Ran felt shivering on her back. That voice…
Slowly Ran turned to look behind her. On the door, between grandstands, stood a man. Ran felt something tighten on her chest.
And somehow everything started to be clear to her. Everything started to make sense. And she started to blame herself for being so blind and stupid. She should have guessed this, but she hadn’t. How? How in the world she hadn’t thought?
“Okawa-san”, she breathed out and turned a little bit to see him better. She didn’t let go of Shinichi, but her eyes stayed on the black-haired man who was a few years older than she. The worry started slowly turn to anger. “What’s the meaning of this?”
He smiled sweetly. That stupid, boyish smile that made him look so sweet, so nice, so kind… It almost made her forget everything, almost made her think that maybe she was wrong, maybe this was some kind of misunderstanding, but she threw that idea away. She knew better.
“I just wanted to talk to you.”
Okawa Takehiko. Ran had met him for the first time two months ago. Truth be told, she had always been aware of him since he was a karateka. He had been part of a competition in the men’s group, so Ran hadn’t had many chances to meet him personally, but she had seen his matches, and he had always been victorious. Though Ran was sure that Makoto would win if there would be a match between the two of them.
But two months ago, that man had approached her. He had told her that he admires her karate skills and would love to go to the café. She had agreed and it had been worth it because Ran had had fun. They have had so much to talk about.
The only problem had been Shinichi. After she had told him about the meeting, he had become in a bad mood. They have fought it. Shinichi had claimed that Takehiko wanted to date her. Ran had told him that he was just ridiculous and jealous, and… Well, since none of them admitted being wrong, she had left with a fury. Like she wanted to be with that stupid detective anyway!
They had made peace on next day. But Shinichi hadn’t given up on the story that he had met Takehiko before and he had asked Shinichi if he could take Ran on a date. That had been the stupid thing that Ran had ever heard. Like who in the world would be bold enough to ask someone’s girlfriend on a date? Not Takehiko. He had been so nice and kind to her, and Ran had told him that she had a boyfriend. Besides, even if that would be true, why he would have asked about it from Shinichi? Isn’t she the one who would make that decision? Well, she wouldn’t leave Shinichi for someone else (and she told him that), but still, she had thought that Shinichi was just too jealous.
So, she met Takehiko some more times. And why not? He had been nice, kind, cheerful, positive, joking, and they shared so many same interests. Since they were both karatekas, he shared the same knowledge as she did. It was so refreshing to talk about their idols, other karatekas, tactics, moves, matches, and what else. Of course, she had talked about those things with Shinichi, but it wasn’t a secret that Shinichi’s knowledge wasn’t much. He hadn’t the same interest as her, even though he always listened and asked some questions if he didn’t know. The discussion wasn’t as deep as with Takehiko.
She didn’t mind having more friends, even though Shinichi had shown a long face every time she had told him that she is going to meet Takehiko. But at least he hadn’t tried to stop her, and she respected that. Like… Why couldn’t she have more friends? It wasn’t like she had been jealous every time Shinichi had had a woman as a client! And besides, she had never said that Shinichi couldn’t join them! Maybe she should ask Takehiko if Shinichi could join them next time. Then Shinichi would see that Takehiko was a nice guy!
But then it changed. Takehiko had asked her for the finest restaurant, and even though the idea had been nice, it made Ran feel slightly uneasy. Well, first of all, it had been the same restaurant where Shinichi had taken her after that school play some time ago. The place where - she later heard about it - he had tried to confess to her. The same restaurant where Kudo Yusaku had proposed Fujimine Yukiko. It felt like she would betray Shinichi if she would go there with someone else.
And the second thing was that it was a fine and expensive restaurant. Ran believed that no one took just a friend there, promising to pay for everything. She had felt like it wasn’t okay. Somehow it had started to feel like there was something more behind this, but she hadn’t dared to assume anything. In the end, there had been a possibility that she was just overthinking.
So, she declined. She had explained that this certain restaurant held some meaning for her and Shinichi and that she would feel like betraying her boyfriend if they would go there. It had been scary and made her nervous, but Takehiko was nice. He would understand and respect her for that.
Except things hadn’t gone as she had hoped for.
Because she had gotten an answer where he had admitted that he had a crush on her and wanted so badly to take her out.
Ran had been a little bit shocked. Maybe she shouldn’t have been, because in the end, Shinichi had said that Takehiko wanted to take her on a date, but… still. She hadn’t believed in that at all.
She had turned him down nicely. She had told that he had been brave to tell her, but she already had a boyfriend. Ran had thought that he would have been sad and probably answered something like “pity” before letting her be, but instead, she had gotten a message where he had just told her that she should give him a chance and see if he would be a better one. Again, Ran declined and explained that it wouldn’t be fair for Shinichi and she would still feel like she was betraying him if she would accept. But she hadn’t got the understanding that she had hoped for. Instead, Takehiko had continued insisting. Message after another he tried to convince her to go out with her, and every time she told him that she loved Shinichi more than anything else, and after getting enough, she told him that he would be nothing like Shinichi and asked to leave her alone before blocking his number.
It had been something she had never done to anyone. And even if it had been the right thing to do, she had felt a little bit bad for Takehiko. And even if that hadn’t been enough, she also felt bad because all this time, she had thought that Shinichi had been jealous for nothing. They had even fought about it, and now she needed to admit to him that she had been wrong all the time and apologize. She told him everything.
But instead of making fun of her, telling her something like: “I told you”, he had just thanked her for being honest and took her into his arms, giving her a warm and soothing hug. Ran had felt bad for doubting him, but luckily, he wasn’t mad about it.
Then, after a few days, Takehiko appeared behind her door. Luckily her father had been at home and been the one who had opened it. Ran had recognized Takehiko’s voice and with a panic, hide in the kitchen. She regretted now that she hadn’t told her father about Takehiko, and now all she could do was hope that her father wouldn’t let him in if he would claim to be Ran’s friend or something…
But luck had been on her side. Takehiko had been so confident that when her father had asked who the hell Takehiko was, he had introduced himself as Kogoro’s future son-in-law. There had been a long silence before her father announced that he had already one future son-in-law, so he didn’t need another one and shut the door, leaving Takehiko outside.
Ran had been so grateful, but the aftermath had been so awkward. Of course, when they finally ate their dinner, her father asked about that man. Ran hadn’t had any other choice but to explain the situation to him. But when he asked if Shinichi knew about this “other boy”, Ran exploded. God, what her father was even thinking? Did he really think that she was cheating on Shinichi with someone else?! She had shouted at him, asking him how in the world he even dared to suggest something like that! Of course, right after that she had felt that she had been so unfair. She had been just so shocked and stressed out about the situation, and deep down she knew that her father had meant well and wanted to make sure that everything between her and Shinichi was okay.
The last straw had happened a little over a week ago at school. Out of nowhere, Takehiko appeared at Teitan High School. Luckily Ran had missed him and successfully avoided him even though he had just walked around the school, asking everyone where he could find Ran. And luckily this school and her classmates had been on her and Shinichi’s side. Sonoko had informed Ran that she had done everything that Takehiko wouldn’t bump into her or Shinichi while searching the school, and she knew to tell that even though she had planned to instruct their classmates not to tell anything, it seemed that without a word, they had shown their support to Shinichi and Ran. When Takehiko had asked, they had just told him that Ran was dating Shinichi and they were meant to be, so he wouldn’t have a chance, whatever he would do. It had made Ran blush deeply, but she had been so grateful. If her words didn’t mean anything to him, she hoped that hearing that from outsiders’ mouths would make him realize that she was serious and wouldn’t go out with him.
But even though the girls had taken the situation seriously and comforted her and Shinichi about it, some of the boys didn’t take it as seriously. It seemed that as soon as they got a chance, they started to joke about Ran having another man or Shinichi having a competitor that he should be careful of. In another situation she would have probably laughed, but this? No, this wasn’t even fun anymore! And when she had glanced at Shinichi… God, he had always laughed with others, joked back, but this time? He had just made that forced smile before turning away without saying anything.
This all had made her wonder how much this situation had tested their relationship. It was true that their love had survived probably much harder situations than this, but she couldn’t lie: Seeing Shinichi as that had hurt her. She hated to see him hurt because of this. And it hadn’t helped that after that day when they were finally heading home, she had opened her locker and found out all the gifts, flowers, and a letter that Takehiko had left her. It had been embarrassing, knowing that Shinichi saw that all… But it hadn’t been her fault. And like his locker hadn’t ever been full of gifts and love letters! But he hadn’t said anything, just helped her to throw them in the trash can. Yeah, she had felt bad for doing so, wasting someone’s money and time, but she didn’t want them.
And that’s why she felt now foolish. She should have guessed that it was Takehiko who would call himself her biggest fan. Of course, he would be the one who would approach Shinichi and hurt him just to make sure to get in touch with her. Though she still couldn’t understand why. She had told him that she loved Shinichi and she wouldn’t leave him for Takehiko. Why make everything just harder? Why couldn’t he respect her and leave them alone?
God, this was enough. She had been patient with him, but this time he had gone too far.
“If you wanted to talk to me, you should have just asked”, she said angrily and glanced at Shinichi who tried to push himself onto his knees. It seemed so painful and Ran got her arms around him just to give him some support. “But this”, she continued and glanced at Takehiko. “Why?”
She saw how he glanced at Shinichi. “He would be only in a way”, Takehiko answered finally and smiled – that sweet, boyish smile, and somehow Ran didn’t like it as much as she did before. “He is just beaten, nothing serious.”
“Just beaten?” Ran repeated shocked and turned to look at Shinichi again. She couldn’t see his face, but she heard how he breathed heavily, like every move he made hurt him and took much more energy than usual. “It isn’t just beaten up! You have hurt him!”
“I didn’t have a choice”, Takehiko answered. “He didn’t agree to break up with you.”
Ran felt like her blood was boiling. All this for what?! “Then maybe you should stop harassing me”, she said, trying still to keep herself as calm as possible. Even though she wanted to go and beat that man up - he had done that to Shinichi too -, she tried to reason to herself that if they would just talk about this, maybe he would understand and leave them be. “He isn’t breaking up with me, I’m not going to break up with him, and I’m not going to cheat him. So, I don’t understand why you can’t respect it and let us be.”
Takehiko looked puzzled, but when Shinichi let out a grunt, Ran turned her eyes to him. She had enough time to catch him before he collapsed back to the floor. She wrapped her arms better around him, pulling him closer to her and giving him a place to rest. He let out a silent curse on her arms, leaning on her as if he had already given his all. And it made Ran so sad. The last time she had seen Shinichi in this bad shape, had been when they took down the organization. And like back then, this felt unbearable! Usually, nothing took Shinichi down, not this badly.
No one hurt her Shinichi. No one.
Yet, here he was, trying to pull himself up, and yet failing…
“What you see in him?”
Ran tightened her arms around Shinichi and turned to look at Takehiko. He just stared at Shinichi blankly.
“What?”
“What you see in him?” Takehiko repeated, raising his eyes at her. “What is so great in him?”
Ran closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself even a little.
How dare he even question?
“The list is long”, she said harshly, opening her eyes and looking at Takehiko. “But I’m not sure if a selfish person like you could understand.”
“A selfish person?” Takehiko repeated, looking confused. “I’m thinking of you! A girl like you need a strong man beside you, not that weakling who can’t even fight for you…”
Ran frowned and opened her mouth.
“Fighting for her?”
Ran shut her mouth and looked at Shinichi, who let out a toxic laugh and raised himself on her arms enough to face Takehiko, yet she felt how he leaned his head against her chest. “I would always fight for her. But fighting about her? That, I can’t do.”
Shinichi…
Takehiko let out hum. “And that makes me think that you aren’t worthy of her”, he said. “You aren’t ready to fight…”
“Because the problem is, you think of her as an item”, Shinichi interrupted. “The problem… The problem is that she is an individual human. She can think and feel herself; she made all the decisions that are about herself. And that’s why… That’s why I didn’t accept your challenge. Because if you want to go out with her, you must ask her, not me. As much as I hate the thought, I don’t own her. I can’t decide anything for her. And whatever she chooses, I must respect it.”
“Wait!” Ran shouted out, even though her heart was melting at his words, knowing how much he was respecting her, but... “A challenge?” she repeated.
“Yeah”, Takehiko answered. “I challenged him: If I win, he will break up with you and I could have taken you on a date”, he explained. “But that coward declined.”
“So, you attacked him?”
“I wouldn’t say that”, Takehiko said. “He got a chance, but he didn’t fight back.” He shrugged. “Shows how weak he really is, didn’t even try…”
Ran closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Calm down, don’t do anything irresponsible, she told herself, and yet, the storm was already thundering inside her.
How dare he? How in the world did he dare to attack Shinichi if he didn’t fight back? God, she just wanted to stand up, and… and…
Maybe she should do that. She would. Not herself, but she was so furious about Shinichi that she would. No one, ever, treats Shinichi like that. Not as long as she lived.
“Fine”, she said finally and opened her eyes. “Let’s fight. Karateka versus karateka.”
“Ran, don’t”, Shinichi hissed, making Ran look at him. “He… he is strong, and…”
“Don’t worry”, she said gently, smiling at him. “I’m going to be stronger.”
“Ran…”
“No one treats you like this and gets away with it”, she said and bent over enough to press a kiss on his hair. Even though it had been only hours since she had seen him last time, she wanted so badly just to hide her face in his hair and just hold him in her arms, but… She straightened herself. “Just rest here”, she said and carefully let go of him before standing up and turning to look at Takehiko.
“When I win, you leave me and Shinichi alone. Period”, she said and took her school uniform jacket away, letting it drop on the floor. She knew already that fighting in a school uniform will be hard, but she wouldn’t let it slow her down.
“Beating up a girl?” Takehiko asked, looking a little bit troubled. “I don’t know, Ran-chan…”
“Don’t worry about me”, she said, feeling anger burning inside her. “I don’t need your pity. Give it all or go home.”
His expression changed. “You can’t beat me”, he said.
Ran smiled. “Then, easy win for you”, she hissed, taking her position, ready for anything. Her anger just raised while looking at how Takehiko hesitated. She hated that he thought that she was made from porcelain and would break as soon as he would touch her.
She was much more than just that.
“So…” Takehiko started finally. “When I win, will you go out with me?”
“Fine”, Ran answered. She just stared at Takehiko, how he still stared at her like making sure that she was serious. Finally, he let out a sigh and started to look like he was ready.
“Ready?”
Ran nodded. Oh, she really waited for this…
He made the first move, and she blocked it. The dance was on. He was fast with his movements and hits and kicks. Even though Ran had thought to be ready for this challenge, she somehow found it hard to keep up with him. In most of his attacks, she got blocked just in time, but even still some of them got through.
She couldn’t feel desperate right now. But she surely needed a little bit more room. So as soon as she got an open spot, she blocked another hit and moves a little bit away from him.
Okay, he hadn’t kidding her. Only now she realized how much in trouble she might be. It wasn’t like she hadn’t met strong opponents, and to be honest, she had thought that Shinichi had been just overprotective while warning about Takehiko's strength, but no kidding, while dodging all those hits and kicks, she already felt them in her bones.
It was no wonder anymore that Shinichi was in bad shape. Ran had trained Shinichi to be a good dodger, thanks to her hits and kicks from time to time, but even though he was fast and good dodge those hits, with Takehiko’s strength…
Ran took another hit from Takehiko. She let out a cry but still was able to move aside again. God, she really needed to start taking over the situation. She needed to keep herself calm enough to concentrate and stop doing anything stupid, but still, something to keep her strength on and make him lose his defense. She wondered if she could kick him hard enough to break through.
Takehiko stopped. “You know, it’s okay to say you lose”, he said. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Ran let out a laugh. “You beat me as badly as you did with Shinichi. Until I’m in the same shape as him, I haven’t lost”, she split.
Actually, those words were all she needed. It made her rage raise. She didn’t need his pity! Besides, when she remembered how badly he had treated Shinichi… She felt like it had just lightened her anger up.
Yeah! It was now or never if she wanted to win.
She ran to Takehiko, starting to attack him. He was taken aback but was fast blocking her hit and kicks. Yet she didn’t let it discourage her! She just danced around him, trying to find his weakness, finding even that one little spot to hit and make him fall. It maybe felt impossible but that’s how karate champions were. They were good, the best of them all.
But she would do that. She would tire him until he would slip, and when he would, Ran would hit that spot and end him.
“You are going just tire yourself, Ran-chan”, Takehiko breathed out while blocking her attacks. Ran held her mouth shut, ignoring him. She wouldn’t let him get the better of her. Instead, she just kept tightly of her anger and confidence to keep them together. She is going to win. The loss wasn’t an opinion, not with him.
She had taken down much worse opponents too. So, she could win him too, right? Right?!
No, there was no room for doubts. She brought back everything she didn’t like in Takehiko, reminded herself how selfish and stubborn he was, how he didn’t respect her or Shinichi at all. How badly he had treated Shinichi, what he had done to him…
And she thought about Shinichi.
She will win.
She hit harder, kicked harder, and moved faster, which seemed to confuse Takehiko a little bit. She continued until she saw how his defense got a crack and showed the spot. Ran hit. She gave her everything for that hit. It took Takehiko off guard, but Ran didn’t show mercy. While Takehiko was still recovering from her hit, she made another. He couldn’t rebuild his defense, Ran didn’t let him. She gave her all, making sure that this man would be on the ground, feeling the same pain…
And then he collapsed. Ran took a step aside but kept still in her position, ready for anything. She had learned not to trust anyone in the fight, not even though they would be on the ground, looking like they had enough.
But Takehiko looked like she had gotten the better of him. He just looked on the ground, leaning on his hands, breathing heavily.
And Ran waited, saying nothing, holding her fighting spirit.
“You… you really are a hard opponent”, he said finally and raised his head a little bit to look at her. “I was so sure that you wouldn’t have a chance against me.”
Ran frowned but held her mouth shut. Somehow those words made her just angry. But then again, he got what he deserved! She wouldn’t admit to him that he had been a hard opponent, not even though it would be probably polite. She felt a little pain everywhere, and she was sure that her body would be full of bruises and aching in the evening, but they would be worth it.
But she wouldn’t say anything about that to Takehiko.
“Get up”, she said instead. “Let’s get this done. I don’t have the whole day.”
God, she wanted so badly to go back to Shinichi. She wanted so badly to take him home and made sure he was okay…
She wanted so badly to get over this.
“You are so cold”, Takehiko said and looked a little sad even though he smiled. “You love him that much?”
“More than anything”, Ran answered without hesitation. “And I don’t take lightly anyone who treats him like that.”
He let out a hum. “So, would you tell me… What is so great in him?”
Ran eyed him, still wondering if she should tell him, but at the same time, she was a little bit afraid that this was his way to try to soften her and when she would be off track, he would attack.
“He is everything that you aren’t”, she answered finally. “And even though I would explain, you wouldn’t understand.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“I am”, she answered right away. “And I would choose him all over again.”
“Always?”
“Always.”
He just stared at her. It felt like forever but Ran kept staring back. Then he closed his eyes and let out a laugh before getting himself up, with a painful grimace on his face. Ran felt bad, but somehow, she felt satisfied. She hoped that he would feel as bad as Shinichi, but seeing how he got himself up…
“Then I think I have to admit my loss”, he said finally. He looked at the floor. “It’s hard to admit, but it seems that I can’t have a girl I’m in love with.”
Did he try to make her feel bad, after everything he had done?! Well, to be honest, Ran felt, but she tried to move it aside because she still believed that Takehiko had made much more trouble than this case was worth. And there were so many things that she would have liked to say about love. How his love was more like an obsession and how the best way to show love is to let her be with the one she loves and accept it. Let her be with Shinichi and stop harassing them.
But maybe she wasn’t the one who should give pieces of advice to those who had broken hearts. In the end, her feelings had been returned. Even though their relationship hadn’t been always easy, she believed that every relationship got good and bad times. But she couldn’t really understand those who had been turned down by their crush. She could only guess, but she didn’t know how it felt. And maybe those words wouldn’t mean anything to him at this point.
God, Ran, don’t let your guard down. Not yet!
“I… Well…” He looked bothered. “I’m… I’m sorry for all the trouble.”
Just sorry?! God, Ran wanted to tell him that this wasn’t even good enough! She wanted to make him go apologies to Shinichi personally, but part of her didn’t want to let him close to him. Not after this. Besides, right now she just wanted to get rid of him. Rid of this whole mess. “Just promise to leave us alone”, Ran said finally.
“I… will”, he promised. Then he smiled that boyish smile and looked at her. “But I hope we can exercise sometime together. It would be interesting to spar with someone who has a chance against me.”
Ran got a little mixed feeling about this. She hated how full of himself he was about his karate skills, but… She had to admit, his request was something she would have liked to consider. But right now, after everything?
“We will see about that later”, Ran just answered. “And that’s the answer you have to accept because right now I’m so mad that I don’t want to see you ever again”, she continued.
He looked sad but nodded before turning and walking slowly to the door. In silence, she just followed him with her gaze, making sure that he went to the door, opened it, and disappeared. And didn’t come back.
Only after that Ran relaxed. Slowly she turned to look at Shinichi, who sat just where she had left him, but still looked like he was having a hard time.
Ran walked to him, feeling already her body aching, but she ignored it.
“Hey”, she said when stopped beside him, crouching. “How are you feeling?”
Shinichi raised his head, looking at her. “Have been better, to be honest”, he admitted. Then he looked down and Ran saw how he held his side. “I thought I can take much pain, thanks to your thigh grips and hard kicks and hits, but…” He let out a laugh. “He was something else.”
Ran eyed at him, worried. Somehow all the anger had melted away already, and worry had come back. “Did he ask you to come here?” she asked.
“Yeah”, he answered. “He wanted to see me, and part of me didn’t want to, but I also thought that maybe this would be a good opportunity to talk about the situation and make him leave you be. But…” He let out a sigh. “He didn’t buy it. Instead, he was sure that he would be a better boyfriend to you and that I’m just an obstacle to getting you on a date. So, he wanted to challenge me.” Then he met her eyes, smiling weakly. “And the rest you know.”
“You should have fought back”, Ran said, raising her hand on his hair, feeling those on her fingers…
He let out a laugh. “Do I look like I would have won?” he asked.
He wasn’t wrong, but… “But you could have dodged and done something to win”, she said. She smiled. “You have always found a way to win, I don’t know how he would be any different.”
Shinichi shook his head and looked away. “I dodged him, but he wasn’t as gentle with me as you have been. So as much as I dodged and blocked, he got better on me.”
Ran still had a hard time believing that there was someone who had got Shinichi like this. Never happened before. But maybe he hadn’t met too many karatekas who would have wanted to fight with him. And even if he had, then Ran had stepped between them.
Maybe she should teach Shinichi some karate moves. As a self-defense.
“Can you get up?” she asked and straightened herself, offering her hand to him. “I would love to get out of here and get finally at home.”
“Same”, Shinichi agreed and grabbed her hand. He tried to push himself up, but the pain took over and make him stop. She offered her other arm, helping him stand up slowly. When she had made sure that he could stand by himself without falling, she let go of him for a moment to gather all their things. He took his school bag from her hands, and after Ran put her jacket on her, she put his arm around her shoulder and wrapped her arm around his back to support him.
Her school bag was still close to the door, but she would get it when they would pass by.
After calming his breath, he let out a laugh. “Is this how it feels?” he asked, looking at her with that sparkle in his eyes. “Being a damsel in distress?”
Somehow, it made Ran smile. “Hopefully not”, she answered. “You look so much in pain that I hope other damsels in distress aren’t in that bad shape.”
“Huh”, he answered, taking slow steps to the door with her. “Well, I think I always want to do everything the hard way.”
Ran giggled. “I feel like you do”, she admitted. “Even though you could save me from so much worry by taking that easy and safer way, you know.”
He shrugged a little bit, as much as he could. “But at least my savior is beautiful and brave”, he continued, making Ran blush. “I think this all was worth it.”
Ran shook her head with a smile. “You are an idiot, you know that?”
